For lovers of outdoor activities, there’s no better way to share this valuable time with your Pet. Morning jogs with your dog, hikes to local hills and trips to the mountains, outdoor ball games and bike rides are something that both Pet and owner will enjoy.

Outdoor walks and ball games, races or a game of “catch a bone” are easy to organize in your own yard, but a bike ride is more difficult to organize. In order to organize such a walk, we need to make a plan and preferably all spelled out point by point. Takiand the event should be safe for the owner, tail and of course for the third party – passerby. The bike ride should be a “complex” that will provide all three with safety and comfort.

Breeds that are suitable for a bike ride

Physical activity in the morning is always good for both humans and their Pets. A brisk morning exercise affects our form, mood and the cognitive and physical health of our Four-legged Friend. A bike ride is a great way to let out all the negativity, improve health, tighten muscles and improve mood. And on the way you can make some beautiful photos with your Ponytail and it will be a memory for life. However, it should be remembered that an unprepared doggy will not be able to withstand such a physical load. Biking is about speed, movement and strength. If you own a puppy or a small ornamental breed dog, keep in mind that such well underdeveloped muscular and bone system. If the dog has had an illness and has problems with the cardiovascular system or with the musculoskeletal system, this type of activity will also be a risk for the animal. Older Tails will also not withstand such a load. An interesting and active bicycle ride, in fact, is not for everyone.

A bike ride should be a pleasure for both – the animal and the owner. There are some breeds for which it is suitable, such as those with the right height, well-developed limbs, strength of the entire musculoskeletal system and body size. These are such types of service dogs as: Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Boxer, Poodle, Cocker Spaniel, Border Collie and Dog. And then there are such types of hounds as: draithaars, English pointers, setters, German kurtshaars, Labradors and Bavarian hounds. If we are talking about herding breeds, then well developed musculoskeletal system have: Belgian Shepherd Dog, Alabai, Bobtails and Boserons, Collies and Irish Wolfhounds, as well as Welsh Corgis. If your pet will resist and he will not like it all, will stop and pause, unfortunately, such a walk will not succeed. The owner should always take into account the physical ability and mood of the animal.

“Ammunition” for traveling

And now you and I will choose“ammunition” for a safe walk. The usual leash and collar will not do, because the quality of these things is not designed for high speed. We choose the equipment in pet stores, it must be durable and reliable.

  • Theharness for riding should be durable and high-quality, and also evenly distribute the load over the body of the animal. A sturdy and high-quality harness will not lead to injuries to the limbs. In the evening, it is worth considering that it should also have reflective elements.
  • Thebicycle harness is chosen depending on the size of the dog. This thing consists of special fasteners and leashes with shock absorbers, thanks to this leash will gently stretch.
  • Addressnik for dogs will always help you find your Tail, also strangers will return it faster after loss.
  • “Drinker” is needed when the feeling of thirst arises. When we are going for a bike ride we never forget about mineral water or water with lemon, so also Four-legged will ask for water. For lovers of such intrigues they have already developed folding“drinkers”. Increased physical activity will always lead to thirst.
  • A bag of goodies is for reinforcement. Physical activity also requires reinforcement, so don’t forget the goodie bag.
  • Afirst aid kit is necessary for safety. If you are planning such frequent walks and cycling activities it is worth buying a first aid kit from a pet store. A veterinary mini first aid kit contains all the essential items that will be needed in case of scratches, minor bruises and wounds. It includes: cotton sponges, bandages, disinfectants, wet wipes and band-aids.

Teaching your dog to ride and walk with a bicycle

Riding with the dog can look like a walk, but we can also just ride Fluffy in a special basket. It is worth choosing not a simple one, but a bicycle basket that is firmly attached to the wheeled vehicle. This is very important for the sake of safety, so that the animal does not fall out and does not get hurt. For small Pets on sale there are special wicker baskets made of vine with a metal frame. Such a basket does not allow the dog to jump out and he will only enjoy the scenery. There are also animal baskets on sale with a hole for the head. Usually, all bike baskets are designed for up to 10 pounds. If your dog is large, and you want to organize for him “rides”, then for such are provided – bicycle trailers. Bike trailers and strollers are also selected according to the weight of the animal.

In order for bike rides to be a pleasure for the owner and Tails, it is important to accustom the animal to such things. We start with a short ride, which will last 5-10 minutes. In the future, it is worth increasing the time of walking and riding to 15-20 minutes and so every time. When your Friend will be able to run next to the bike for half an hour or more or hold in the basket for the same amount of time – it will be considered a great success. Don’t compare simply walking and walking next to a bike. After all, the bicycle actually adds an additional moral burden to the animal and its owner. Here you need to be as careful as possible not to lose sight of the animal and not to let it accidentally get its limbs tangled in the pedals and spokes of the bike.

It is worth accustoming your doggy from childhood to this kind of thing, because the speed of the wheels, the twisting of the pedals themselves can frighten the Pet. The animal will be too difficult to “morally” accept this mobile. It is best to familiarize the puppy with the bicycle at an early age, show how the wheels and pedals spin, put the doggie on the seat and let him sniff the whole bicycle. If it’s a familiar odor for the animal, that’s part of the success. Take occasional walks with the bike and the dog to get the animal used to the wheels and speed. Adjust the speed of the wheelie by making it higher and lower so the animal understands that it needs to get used to the speed. Try to drive a short distance with your puppy, perhaps on your street or on a neighboring street, you can also drive in a city that will be familiar to Tail. You can also choose a park, the main thing is that it should be quiet and peaceful at the time so that it doesn’t prove to be very stressful for the animal. You can complete this training process by gradually increasing the length of the walk. Do not forget to reward your Tail with goodies during such walks, because it will encourage your animal to obedience and discipline.

Basic and additional commands that we must teach our pets for asuccessful bike ride:

  • Go!
  • Stop!
  • Close!
  • Slow down!
  • Left!
  • To the right!

If you can’t teach your dog commands on your own, it’s a good idea to contact a dog behaviorist. It is worth entrusting the training to a specialist and it will be a quick success for you and your friend.

Safety rules for cycling:

  1. Before traveling with your dog, carefully check your bike basket and bike trailer. These two items should be in excellent condition and their mounts should be intact with no damage.
  2. Use a flag for better visibility of the basket during the day and reflective wristbands and stickers for better visibility in the evening.
  3. Put your dog in the attached basket or trailer and secure with a harness.
  4. It is best to take breaks between long bike rides, give your dog food, water and let him go about his business.
  5. During hot, rainy and cold days, it is best to avoid biking and riding with your dog. You need to realize that such weather will affect the animal as detrimentally as human health. On a day that is too hot, an animal can get heat stroke or sunstroke, and on a day that is too cold, it can catch a cold.
  6. A first aid kit, water and food should always be carried with you.
  7. The best solution is to ride on bicycle paths and according to traffic rules, relying on road signs, zebras and road markings.

WE WISH YOU ALL A GOOD AND SAFE CYCLING EXPERIENCE!